Torpedo



J, A. FLINT.

Jan. 2, 1923.

ToRPEoo. FILED APR. 24,-1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1 J. A. FLINT. TORPEDO, FILED APR.

Jan. 2, 1923.

I 7 Emma Mew M211 Patented Jan. 2, 1923.

UED STATS JAMES A. FLINT, or DENVER, COLORADO,

"rut @WWE ssrenou To run GOVERNMENT-OF THE UNITED STATES.

v TORPEDO.

Application filed April 24, 1920. Serial No. 376,372.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. FLINT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements,

smoke given off by the source 'of motive power which rise to the surface thereby leaving a fairly distinct track or path showing the course of the torpedo. The visibility of this wake is increased by the burning of hibricating oil around the turbines, the.

smoke of which passes off with the exhaust through the after-body of the torpedo where it rises to the surface of the water.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to reduce the visibility of the wake by the elimination of binning oil around the turbines.

These and other objects will appear more clear from the following analysis of this invention when taken in connection with the annexed sheets of drawings illustrating one of various possible embodiments of the invention in a standard type of torpedo.

In these drawings, where similar reference characters denote corresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic plan view of the after-body of a torpedo showing such parts thereof as are necessary to understand the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of a part of the turbines. v

Figure 3 is a detail view taken on the line 3/3 Figure 1.

Figure i is a plan view of the pan beneath the turbines shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5/5, Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6/6 Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view 0 one of the parts shown in F igure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail,

10 denotes the after-body ofa torpedo of standard constructionprovlded with a. supporting partition 11 and a forward bulkhead '12 between which is located the motive power means or'turbine for the torpedo. In the standard type of torpedo this motive means comprises a. pair of turbines 13 and 141, Figure 2, mounted upon concentric shafts 15 and 16 respectively which are revolved in opposite directions in a wellknown manner to drive the concentric pro peller shafts 17 and 18, Figure 1, in opposite directions. The exhaust gases, after in: pinging upon the blades ofthe turbine pass out through exhaust tubes 20 extending through the after-body of the torpedo as shown in Figure 1.. These parts are also of well-known construction and it is believed require no further detail description, for they do not form a part of the invention hereinafter described except in so far as the elements broadly enter into certain combinations.

' It is, of course, to be. understood that the turbine shafts which are revolved at a veryhigh rate of speed must be well lubricated in order that uniformity ofspeed may be main tained throughout the entire run. Heretofore, it has been customary to operate an oil pump from the turbines whereby the lubricating oil is pumped upwardly through passa e 21 in the central part of shaft 15 as shown in Figure 2 and passes outwardly through one or more ducts 22 thereby to thoroughly lubricate all moving contacting surfaces. I c

There is, however, a tendency, due to the high rotation of the shafts, for the oil to be gradually drawn upwardly in to engage ment with the under side of the turbines from whence by centrifugal action it is shot out radiallywhere it mixes with the superheated motive fluid and is burned thereby thus causing the objectionable smoke to form and come to the surface of the water after passing through the exhaust pipes 20. The present invention is intended to overcome this objection as much as possible by introducing an opposing force to the upward movement of the oil on the rotating parts of the driving mechanism.

As herein shown there are provided pipes 23 passing along the under side oftheexhaust pipes or adjacent thereto if more convenient, the after ends of which are provided with flared, bent back ends as shown. clearly in Figure 3. These ends are, of-

shown in Figure 1 where they exhaust through an outlet nozzle 25 as shown indetail in Figure 7. This nozzle is provided with a flared flattened end or opening 26 through which the gases pass in a fiat stream of considerable force thereby substantially embracing or surrounding the central shafts 15 of the turbines 13 and 14 as shown in- Figure 1. In Figure 2 it will be noticed these pipes 23 pass upwardly through openings 27 in a pan 28 positioned beneath the turbine wheel's. After passing through the opening 27 the ends are flattened out whereby the jet of air is directed downwardly through openings 30 shown in Figure 2 with sufficient force to counteract the natural upward movement of the oil about the shafts due to the rotary movement thereof.

In Figure 6 it will be seen an annular member 31 is placed over and in operative relation with the pan 28 whereby these en'- haust gases are deflected downwardly by the in-turned edge 32 to have the greatest er feet in counteracting the upward movement of the oil.

It is believed that the operation and method of use of an apparatus'of this character will be clear from the above description. It might be stated, however, that simultaneously with the starting ofthe turbines the oil pump which is connected with andoperated by the turbine shaft starts to force oil upwardly through the central passage 21' and outwardly through the lateral ducts to thoroughly lubricate all of the adjacentrevolving surfaces. In this way all of the c0-acting parts and bearings are thoroughly lubricated and due to the high rotary speerl there is a tendency for the oil to climb up the shaft to the under side of the turbine. The turbines, however, are rotated in the first instant by compressed air which after impinging upon the turbine blades passes out through the exhaust pipes and a portion is conducted back through the pipes 23 as previouslyexplained; The air issuing from the nozzle 26 tends to counteract the upward movement of the oil and thus prevent it from coming in contact with the turbines thereby overcoming the objections previously noted.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides a simple and practical apparatus adapted to accomplish among others all the advantages herein set forth.

What I claim is:

In a torpedo, in combination, aplurality of turbines, turbine shafts, and exhaust pipe, a lubricatingsystem for said turbine shafts, and means for conducting a portion of the exhaust gases to a point adjacent the outlet of the lubricating system, said means including a pipe communicating with the er;- haust at one end and terminating at a point below the turbine at its other end, the last mentioned end of said pipe being flattened out to form a fan-shaped jet to partially embrace the turbine shaft adjacent the turbine wheels;

Signed at Washington D. 0., this 13th day of December, 1919.

JAMES A. FLINT. 

